Re: [TruthTalk] Crucial Doctrines

[Dave]

ShieldsFamily wrote:   Would God allow a person who willfully and knowingly disobeyed His laws  eternal life????   IS IT POSSIBLE THAT COMMANDMENT-KEEPING, WHILE NOT BEING THE THING(JESUS)  THAT SAVES A MAN, CAN STILL BE A REQUIRMENT FOR ETERNAL LIFE AND  SALVATION??????? -PETER  Oooh, what a juicy question! What will Jesus say when He returns? Matthew 7 23   "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; (1) DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'  Who can answer this??? Izzy DAVEH:  I've explained it before as I believe, but few (none?) seemed to agree.  Think of man's efforts to go to the moon.  Men have wondered how to do it for ages, but until Uncle Sam (the USA taxpayers and NASA) built a rocket capable of the feat, it was impossible for any of us to bridge that gap.  Even with the rocket sitting on the launch pad however, it was not simply a matter of getting in a compartment like an elevator.  It took a certain amount of effort for the astronauts to prepare for the journey, learn the procedures and endure the launch.  By the 'grace' of the taxpayers, Uncle Sam made it all possible, but the journey still required a certain amount of effort by those who were willing to endure the journey to the end.     I have pointed out a number of things that I believe are required for salvation.  Faith, repentance are two that most Protestants agree with.   Baptism is another, that (IMO) Jesus referred to in Jn 3:5 and is evidenced by the fact that some early Christians practiced baptism for the dead (1Cor 15:29).  And of course, I would think our Lord's admonishment that those who endure to the end shall be saved (Mt 24:13) implies there is more than a simple faith required.     As I think Blaine mentioned awhile back, we are saved by the grace of God after all we can do.  Can we really simply ride the coattails of our Savior into heaven?  Will he allow "LAWLESSNESS" to sit on those coattails?  As a covenant people, the Lord has promised salvation to those who observe their end of the covenant.  Does anybody really think the Lord is obligated to save those who don't observe his laws?  Why should he keep his part of a covenant when those who he covenanted with fail to keep their obligations?     The Lord has provided the means by which those who accept him can be saved by returning to our Heavenly Father.  By his grace, it is now possible for all who love and obey (Jn 14:15) him to someday enter heaven.  If it weren't for Jesus' atoning sacrifice, that (returning to heaven) would simply not be possible.  Even with his redeeming act, those who refuse to fully accept his terms are going to find themselves excluded.  The path to heaven is narrow, and the gate strait.......And, not every one who claims to be Christian will find himself in heaven----just those who doeth the will of God.  (Mt 7:21) -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave Hansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.langlitz.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~